# IRONMAN 70.3 Hengqin — IRONMAN 70.3 race guide

> Course, typical race-day conditions and fueling for IRONMAN 70.3 Hengqin, from metrica.fit. HTML version: https://www.metrica.fit/races/im703-hengqin

- **Date:** Sunday 14 March 2027
- **Location:** Asia · 22.2769, 113.5678
- **Distance:** IRONMAN 70.3

## Key facts

- IRONMAN 70.3 Hengqin is on Sunday 14 March 2027.
- It is an IRONMAN 70.3: 1.9 km sea swim, 91.1 km bike, 21.4 km run.
- Usually wetsuit-legal: typical race-week water is 20.5 °C, below the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) age-group limit. The official ruling is made on race morning.
- The 91.1 km bike climbs about 1,519 m in total (mountainous for a 70.3 bike).
- The 21.4 km run climbs about 28 m (flat).
- Typical race-day air temperature is 17.4–23.4 °C with a 4.7 m/s (17 km/h) wind from the E (10-year climatology, not a forecast).
- For a typical ~5.5 h finish in moderate conditions, plan about 90 g of carbohydrate, 750 mg of sodium and 650 ml of fluid per hour.
- At the 2026 edition, 1,013 athletes finished; the median finish time was 6:13:25 (men 6:09, women 6:37), and the middle half of the field finished between 5:37 and 6:56.
- Free 16-week training plan for this race (about 10 hours a week, starting Monday 2026-11-23): https://www.metrica.fit/races/im703-hengqin/training-plan

## Course

| Leg | Distance | Elevation gain | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Swim (sea) | 1.9 km |  | course data |
| Bike | 91.1 km | 1,519 m (mountainous) | course data |
| Run | 21.4 km | 28 m (flat) | course data |

## Race-day notes

IRONMAN 70.3 Hengqin is a 1.9 km sea swim followed by a 91.1 km hilly bike (1519 m gain) and a flat, fast 21.4 km run—pace it to protect your legs for the climb and capitalize on the run.

**Swim.** You’re swimming 1898 m in sea conditions, and the water is listed as typical for this race window (around 20.5°C, wetsuit legal). Expect some chop and saltwater turbulence—use a slightly higher cadence with relaxed shoulders and avoid overreaching in the first half so form stays consistent through to the finish. With an E wind (4.7 m/s), you can get light push/pull effects and side-to-side current—sight often and treat any drift as something you correct, not something you fight. Fueling is not the primary focus on the swim; aim to arrive at T1 hydrated and ready to take your first bike calories immediately after mounting. Swim smooth and controlled—arrive at T1 composed, not emptied. Your goal is clean technique and smart navigation so the hilly bike doesn’t punish a sloppy first segment.

**Bike.** This bike is 91.1 km with 1519 m of climbing on a hilly/climbing profile, so plan to ride by effort: smooth power on the uphills, controlled speed (and stable breathing) on the downhills, and no hero surges on the flats. With E wind at 4.7 m/s, expect some crosswind effects on sections that are exposed—stay slightly more upright in gusts and keep your steering inputs calm. Because air temps can run from 17.4°C to 23.4°C with moderate heat, manage cooling: drink consistently and don’t wait until you feel hot to start fluid intake. Fuel targets are 90 g carbs per hour, 750 mg sodium per hour, and 650 ml fluid per hour—work to hit those numbers from early to mid-ride, using steady sips and measured gel/chew timing rather than waiting for “big moments.” The winning move on this course is even effort: respect the 1519 m climb with disciplined power and steady fueling so your run starts strong.

**Run.** The run is 21.4 km with 28 m elevation gain and a flat/fast profile, so once you’re rolling you should be able to build and maintain. After the hilly bike, the key is leg management: expect some stiffness in the first stretch—keep cadence a touch higher and avoid long ground-contact strides early. Heat is moderate with air temperatures listed from 17.4°C to 23.4°C, so hydrate early and keep your intake steady rather than reactive. Use your pacing to protect the finish: this course rewards athletes who don’t overrun the first half of the flat segment. Apply your overall fueling approach consistently through the run by staying on schedule—on a day like this, “steady sips and consistent carbs” generally beats trying to compensate later. Go controlled for the first few minutes off the bike, then trust the flat course—steady effort and regular intake will set up a fast finish.

**Weather.** With these conditions, prioritize steady fueling and fluid intake and make small navigation/sighting adjustments on the swim and wind-exposure sections on the bike.

## Results by year

- 2026: https://www.metrica.fit/ironmanwc/2026-ironman-703-hengqin (50 World Championship slots)

## Links

- Race guide (HTML): https://www.metrica.fit/races/im703-hengqin
- Fuel plan for this race: https://www.metrica.fit/fuel?preset=im703&sport=tri&hours=5.5&intensity=race&race=im703-hengqin&racename=IRONMAN+70.3+Hengqin&carbs=90&sodium=750&fluid=650&temp=23
- JSON: https://www.metrica.fit/api/public/races/im703-hengqin
- Official race page: https://www.ironman.com/races/im703-hengqin

Source: metrica.fit. Weather is a 10-year climatology (typical, not a forecast); course distances and climbing come from derived, approximate course tracks. Wetsuit rulings and cutoffs are set by the organiser — confirm in the official athlete guide. Not affiliated with the IRONMAN Group.